Episode 38--> The Ninjas On The Bus Are Clowning Around, Clowning Around...

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"Good day!" I greeted the bus driver enthusiastically.

Hinata stuttered a delayed greeting to the man and he watched as I dragged her to a couple seats in the rear end of the bus. It was the second to last pair seats. I didn't feel like being one of the cool kids who takes over the back of the bus this time, so sitting here was fine.

I sat down and, like I said I would, pulled her into my lap.

The bus driver shrugged his shoulders not giving it a further thought. He slumped over
the steering wheel with a thick arm around his face. He barely peaked up as everyone else boarded the bus.

Since it was this time of day and school was out for summer break there shouldn't be many people taking the bus. But guess what?!

Go on... GUESS!

Yes, you guessed it...

WE HAVE THE ENTIRE BUS TO OURSELVES! WHOOP! WHOOP! WHOOPIDINGER!

Everyone began searching for good seats and I made sure to quickly throw in my 5 cent(opinion).

"Hey, give Gaara a window seat!" I barked explosively making the bravest of ninjas jump.

Gaara looked at me startled.

Hinata giggled and I smiled. But what did she find so funny?

"Natalya?" Naomi quirked a brow still stuck outside the bus in line to enter-- but she's still catching business.

"The window seats are the best." I shrugged totally laid back with my simple reasoning. Kazekages deserve the good seats after all.

Gaara saw no problem beyond my shouting and walked towards Hina and I. He took the seat right across from us. It was in the solo seat row and had a perfect window view.

I acknowledge him with a smile and wink, "Perfect spot for sightseeing, am I right? Welcomes, Gaara."

Choji coughed, "Favoritism." and plopped down in the double row seats in front of Hinata and I. Favoritism? Did he forgot all the times I gave him special treatment? Hmph! I glared at Choji's back and he munched away on his chips all innocent like, pretending not to notice.

In response to Choji's slur, Kiba wolfishly grinned at his buggy teammate while boarding, "Looks like Shino's got competition! Hey, Shino, watcha' think 'bout that?"

Once Shino stepped inside he sat down to the front of the bus in the solo chair row and Kiba leaned on his shoulder casually peering into his face.

Shino shifted the shades on his face and stubbornly turned to his window, "It doesn't matter. Why you ask? It is simply because I never asked for the attention. It was undesired from the beginning. Why it's a load off of my back if she has found someone new." It was an ultimate dismissal of the topic.

But a certain Inuzuka didn't take the hint. "Aw, Shino don't be shy! You're stewing in envy!"

I decided to play along for fun, "Wah... Shino doesn't love me..! He thinks I'm annoying!" I sobbed and hid my face against Hinata's back.

Shino turned and faced toward me, "I would not go so far as that extreme, Hugh-sama."

My heart swelled and I peered pass Hinata and met his stare. I grinned happily. In his own way he was saying he liked me and it made me feel great.

"Of course there is no one else I'd mess with quite like how I'd mess with you, Shino. You have a special spot." I teased mischievously.

Shino let out a grunt of amusement, "I would figure..."

I continued to smile at Shino. He froze at my suddenly eerie innocent smile.

Cracking under pressure, his demeanor displayed unease. Shino slid back around to face the front and didn't look back for the entire ride to come.

What happened on the beach shall never be forgotten, Shino-kun~

I hummed merrily and grinned like a cat. I absentmindedly squeezed Hinata close, resting my cheek on her back.

Just then Naruto entered the bus. He squeezed pass Kiba and made his way to the back of the bus.

"Hey Hina, Naruto is heading this way." I whispered over her shoulder and she just stayed quiet. Naruto looked like he was going for the very back of the bus directly behind Hina and I. He probably wanted to be all cool guy like, you know, heeding to the rebels sit at the back of the bus cliche.

"We should get him to sit with us." I wasn't out to tease her but since she was going to sit in my lap the seat beside me was free so I thought it would be nice to have Naruto's company.

"N-No, I wouldn't be able to handle it-- ah!"

I wasn't really listening and I didn't hear her before I spoke up,"Hey Naruto--!" Just when I called out to him Hinata jumped from my lap and filled the empty seat.

"Hm?" Standing in the aisle between us two girls and Gaara, Naruto glanced over, "What was that, Na-chan?"

I smiled as Naruto stood in the aisle and gave us a quizzical look. Hinata felt the heat and she sweated bullets of nervousness. I grinned to myself meanwhile Hinata feigned innocence and twiddling her fingers.

"Just saying hi. So are you good?" I turned to look at him as he sat down.

"Yea." He plopped down heavily. I guess a beach day had him totally relaxed. He seemed to melt into a Uzumaki goop all over the back of the bus basically monopolizing the space of the only four-seater.

"A lot happened today." I muttered outloud, laughing at the absurdity of today.

"Yeah! Hinata nearly drowning and having to sit out-- what was up with that." Naruto commented at my absentminded recollection.

Hinata's cheeks turned red as he brought it up.

"P-Please forget about that. It d-didn't happen ok!"

Naruto laughed lightheartedly, "You're so strange, Hinata."

"Hey, I'm--" Without thinking she twirled in her seat and faced a chuckling Naruto in protest.

I swear I even heard when her heart skipped a beat. Ah, I can so relate.

I started to laugh, "Pffffft..."

Hinata seemed to come to her senses then and blushed deeply.

"What's so funny?" She rhetorically asked turning to pout at me leaving Naruto bewildered.

"But Natalya-chan you also did embarrassing things today." She rebutted and I gawked at her....she totally went there... oh my gawd...

"Ah...haha... I've seen better days." All the moments I've been subjected to experiencing today played in my mind. If only Hinata knew the half of it.

"Hey, but let's not forget, you caused me face-plant in front of everyone!"

Naruto and the ninjidiots had been unconscious then.

"T-That wasn't on purpose!"

We pouted back at one another and Naruto lips turned into a small grin.

Shaking my head, I called the truce, "Let us just agree that as twins we have equally embarrassed ourselves today, m'kay?" I'm certain it was me who took the greatest lead on today's embarrassment but who's keeping score, eheheherrr... I smiled self-deprecatingly.

Hinata giggled sensing my thoughts and cryptically smiled, "Right."

"You two seem to get along," Naruto interjected calmly as he got comfortable in his seat and placed his arms behind his head while he watched our profiles.

"Haha! I. Know. Right!" I was ecstatic to hear it and hugged Hinata. Hinata blushed shyly at Naruto's appraisal and smiled at her lap.

I was happy Hinata and I became close like this. Hinata was someone I related to as a kid. I was pretty shy back then believe it or not. That's why I felt we were like twins. Hinata grew as a person, bold and brave but still quiet and sweet, whereas I turned into a weird hyperactive couch potato type, haha, lazy yet hyper, bold yet reserved. With my strange personality no one would believe I was actually timid at heart.

I glanced up at the front of the bus noticing the human traffic back up. Kiba was still at the front of the bus chatting with Shino and unintentionally blocked everyone else from getting inside.

Kiba, oblivious Kiba.

Suddenly another Kiba appeared and wrapped an arm around Kiba's neck all casual like, like an inception brainfart, wtf.

I gawked, brows knotted, "Why the funk is there two Kibas?"

"Hmm?" Naruto droned, his face full of boredom due to Kiba being the topic of discussion, "One of the two is Akamaru obviously. You know dog-boy wouldn't dream of leaving his precious hound behind." 😒

Kiba pivoted around once he overheard Naruto-- those blasted canine senses, "You got a problem?" 😡 Kiba snarled and pointed a accusatory finger toward the indifferent Uzumaki responding quite passionately to Naruto's display of ignorance, "Akamaru is more than a dog, idiot! He's my bestfriend, my family!"

"What am I?" Shino sighed, left ignored.

Ah my, no love for Shino.

Akamaru, in his Kiba form, sighed and rolled his eyes.

Naomi stepped into the bus just about to put an end to the arguing on public transport when someone beats her to it.

The bus driver heard the word 'dog' and went on high alert, "Do you runts have a dog on my bus?" He glared at us through his rear-view mirror, an evil glint flashed in his eyes, and the ninjas, Naomi and I shuddered in alarm.

Naomi had the two 'Kiba'-s in choke holds, "Do you guys want to get us kicked off before we even take off?" She then smiled tactfully at the driver through his rear-view mirror, "No sir. I mean do you SEE a dog? Where would we fit a DOG? No, don't mind these two idiots they're just clowning around. RIGHT, boys?"

Akamaru and Kiba were unable to do anything more than nod profusely. The three wrestlers happened to be blocking Shikamaru's way to his seat near Choji.

"Right..." The lackadaisical bus driver rolled his brown eyes, scratched his dreadlocks, and grumbled about annoying brats on his bus before he focused back on the road.

Naomi sighed and let their heads go.

"Take your seat and whatnot." The bus door closed and the bus jerked forward with a shrill squeal of rubber.

Everyone was not properly seated so when the bus suddenly moved some of them stumbled, staggered and even slammed into the back of the bus.

Choji grabbed Naomi, pulled her over him and sat her into the window seat beside him, in the nick of time.

Shikamaru thought quickly and stumbled into the solo seat between Gaara and Shino.

However, Kiba and Aka-Kiba were the unfortunate souls who went flying and slammed into the back of the bus.

I laughed my head off and Kiba cussed me out for it, complaining about me being a heartless fan-girl. Man, it was funny okay!

"That was unnecessary, grouchy old man..." Kiba grumbled splayed out over Naruto and the chairs. He was spread eagle!

I can not even catch my breath! I was hysterical and laughter induced tears of pain dampened my cheeks, "My ribs! Hahahahahhahahaaahaha-"

Hinata the saintly of us twins was concerned enough to ask them, "Are you okay Kiba, Naruto, Akamaru?"

"Of course Hinata-- at least someone cares-- we are strong ninja men, we can take it." Kiba flashed her his sharp canines with a cool smile and shot dagger through his eyes at me as I went into a coughing fit from laughing at him.

"Get off already!" Naruto shoved Kiba off which caused him to fall halfway over Hinata and I's seat. I was laughing too hard to scold Naruto for it- in fact it made me laugh harder.

Still cracking up, with a wicked smile, I poked Kiba's cheek, "Instead of teasing Shino and raving with Naruto maybe you shouldda taken a seat?"

"So hate you right now." Kiba's slit brown eyes narrowed into a glare.

"Oh boo, I love you~ too~!" I finally coughed away the last of my giggles and calmed down.

Naruto grabbed Kiba by the scruff of his collar and pulled his backside into a free seat.

"Quit breathing down their necks and sit down already. Look, Akamaru is already in his seat."

Since the back seat was a four-seater Akamaru sat in the one directly behind Gaara, Kiba in the one that faced the aisle and Naruto in the seat directly behind Hinata. The one directly behind me remained empty. And with that everyone was finally seated.

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[Commercial Break]
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Announcer: Take a break-cation! Tacobell's new Pina Coladas Frutista Freeze- topped with real fruit its part break, part vacation!
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*bell dings*

(Disclaimer: 😛 Me just liked the commercial. Me not getting paid for advertisement lol)

☆☆♡☆☆

Everything cooled down after that. Everyone had that after-beaching calm and relaxed together and enjoyed the ride. They were goofing about and I was enjoying just observing, watching them socialize and sightseeing.

However, no one caught my attention quite like Shikamaru did. My gaze no longer wandered once I glimpsed him. The inconspicuous Nara was staring off at the sun- or more likely a cloud. His face held a neutral expression, not pleased but not unhappy either.

Gee, he's been here for two nights and two days and I haven't said two words to the guy... well at least nothing of great value.

I blushed, thinking about that hug I managed to steal on the evening we met. Shikamaru allowed me to hug him- god that felt so good! He was so warm. He smelt delicious too! God, curse that sexy boy for toying with a fangirl's heart! He got me right in the kokoro. Hook, line and sinker!

I also held hands with him but that was spontaneous and not the least bit romantic to say the least, despite that it was still pretty nerve wrecking. I smiled a little to myself.

I've also made a royal jester of myself so far. I seriously wonder, do I have bad timing for my fangirling or does he have perfect troll-timing?

Stupid Shika, I pouted.

My blue eyes dimmed and my expression softened dreamily. I couldn't take my eyes off him and I found myself daydreaming...

Maybe I should have forced HIM to sit in my lap instead of Hinata...hmm, hmm. I nodded twice in fantastical agreement. Or... I could have sat in his? I picture it. His arms would be around my waist for security and his chest against my back for support. His chin would be rested in the nook at my shoulder.

(Gaaah...) My tan cheeks turned a warm red. I shyly tucked a strand of my dark hair behind my ear. My heart was swiftly thumping now. He is really dreamy isn't he? God, I need to shake myself out of it. I tore my eyes away and blushed more when I realized I had been gawking at him, entranced, the whole time.

Ugh, I'm being so embarrassing and obvious. My heart was racing at how shameless I was acting. Even still I couldn't help another peek.

"...!" Alarm bells blared between my ears. I was practically sweating bullets. The moment his eyes hit a diagonal, scanning the bus, about to clash with my own, I snapped my neck toward my window. Couldn't tell me I wasn't always looking this way, old boy!

Gah, he almost caught me staring!! Or did he?! My nose, is it bleeding? I can't check! He's still looking!! (@~@) SOMEONE TELL ME IF MY NOSE IS BLEEDING!!

I couldn't, wouldn't dare check to see if he was looking my way.
Then, when I thought I had doomed myself, a sudden yawn hits him. Shikamaru went back to gazing out the window.

I relaxed for a millisecond.

"Natalya?"

I jumped, cracking my knee against Naomi's seat in front of me. She was too busy talking with Choji to notice.

"Oh, ow! Urgh..." I pouted teary eyed due to self inflicted pain. I brushed my hair-- which got loose during my spazzing-- back behind my ear again, trying to mask my blushing cheeks.

"Y-Yes."

It was Kiba. We talked about the different settlements and names of the local places.

After I answered his questions he went back to talking with Hinata and Naruto. I sighed, closed my blue eyes and sunk into my seat.

I didn't dear look back at Shikamaru even after I was left alone to my thoughts. But somehow I was still aware of him and what he was doing. Deciding to find a distraction, I tuned into the radio. The tune from the cracked and rusted old radio filled the air. The sound of my thumping heart was drowned out by the enthusiastic choir of voices on the radio.

(🇧🇸stay tuned...)